Pretty Spring Birds

It's been a busy spring! Unfortunately, I have had little time to venture out for bird viewing. During my few excursions, I was able to catch sight of many common spring visitors. This post features several beautiful birds recently seen in the city of Chicago and at our Indiana country property.

A resplendent male Wood Duck enjoys a dip in North Pond

 ~ The peach orchard fence makes for a perfect insect hunting perch for this male Eastern Bluebird  ~
I'm thrilled to report that this bluebird and his mate currently have eggs in one of our property nest boxes

~ A handsome Brown Thrasher forages amid the ground  cover ~ 
I most often hear these birds rustling through fallen crunchy leaves before I am able to spot them. On this day, I was lucky to see at least twelve Brown Thrashers.

Flushed from the grass, a stunning Le Conte's Sparrow sits atop a fallen tree limb ~ A life bird for me!

Beauty among the wildflowers ~ Hermit Thrush

Quite the leggy catch for this lovely Dark-eyed Junco

~ This House Finch pair was especially vocal up in the trees before they stopped by for a sunflower snack ~ 
The cheerful twittering song of these birds is quite pleasing to the ears

A friendly Black-capped Chickadees sits upon a perch above one of our bird baths

A hungry Fox Sparrow feeds in the grass

~ A radiant redhead ~ Red-bellied Woodpecker  ~
Their noisy vocalizations are often heard on our beautiful Indiana property

~ One of many female Northern Cardinals seen on my birding excursion ~ 
The Northern Cardinal is the most popular state bird. Seven states have adopted this bird, Illinois and Indiana are included

~  A Northern Flicker seeks tasty tidbits in the grass ~ 
Ants and beetles are the insects of choice for this bird

Spring Brings ...

The first day of spring is only one week away. This post contains photographs from my archives featuring several birds I am looking forward to seeing over the coming spring season.

Beautiful Yellow Warblers will soon flutter about the marsh area at the back of our property

I've already spotted many American Robins hopping through the grass seeking sustenance

Tiny Ruby-crowned Kinglets are always a delight to observe

Pretty Yellow-rumped Warblers will soon fill the trees

One of the most lovely birds I have ever seen ~ Blackburnian Warbler

This stunning Prothonotary Warbler was a life bird for me last year

The the high-pitched song of Common Yellowthroats will soon fill the marsh

Rusty capped Palm Warblers will be passing through on their way to Canada

I am looking forward to the arrival of diminutive Ruby-throated Hummingbirds during the month of April

Resplendent Black-throated Green Warblers briefly visit the Chicago area during spring migration

Eastern Bluebird  ~ We already have a few bluebird couples checking out several of the nest boxes on our property ~ Last year, one pair raised three successful broods in the same nest box

Goodbye to Spring

This past spring, I had very few opportunities to visit my favorite birding spots due to wedding planning and poor weather conditions. When I was able to venture out, I was thrilled to see a variety of beautiful birds. Featured below are many of the lovely birds I saw during the spring months.

A gorgeous Blackburnian Warbler feeds in the grass

Busy little Wood ducklings enjoy a pleasant day at the pond with mom

 

A stunning Prothonotary Warbler seeks tasty tidbits on a fallen tree

A windblown Sora looks lovely against the reflective pond waters

The handsome profile of a Canada Warbler

A lone Pied-billed Grebe floats lazily in North Pond

A bright breathtaking sight on our country property ~ Scarlet Tanager

A pretty Palm Warbler stands out against the dense fog

Seeking sustenance in the trees ~ Rose-breasted Grosbeak

 

Last week we arrived at our country property to find this male Eastern Bluebird in the process of ousting a House Wren who had previously claimed this nestbox.  Surprisingly, the next day the bluebird pair were still at the house. We have never seen bluebirds steal a house from a wren before, it's usually the other way around.

~ During spring, a bluebird pair had success at one of our nestboxes. Lately we have spotted their 4 youngsters hunting on our property. Currently, 3 bluebird houses are occupied with couples. Looking forward to seeing lots of spotted bluebird babies in the near future!

Beautiful Yellow-rumped Warblers were a common sight this spring

Bruce kindly pulled the car over on the side of the road so I could capture a photo of these two long-legged young Sandhill Cranes accompanied by their parents

We watched from quite a distance as the Sandhill Cranes made their way across a vast cornfield to a small pond surrounded by lush vegetation. We were thrilled to catch sight of this wonderful family!

Migration Magic ~ Part 2

This post is part 2 of a series featuring beautiful birds observed during the month of May. Most of these lovely feathered friends are just passing through on their migration north. Though the weather this spring has been quite volatile, stormy and chilly, I did manage to spend a few glorious days at my favorite birding spots in the city.

I wanted to get this colorful post out earlier but wedding plans took priority. I am now officially a married woman filled with great joy. I hope to post blogs more often now that the wedding planning is over.

A glimpse of a handsome Canada Warbler

The brilliant feathers of a stunning Scarlet Tanager

I love the curious look on this pretty Nashville Warbler

A busy Ruby-crowned Kinglet seeks sustenance in a leafy bush

A beautiful Black-throated Green Warbler feeding around the interior tree branches

Common Yellowthroats were a frequent and welcome sight for me this spring

A striking female Baltimore Oriole delights in the blooming tree buds

A splendid sight ~ Magnolia Warbler

A lovely Pine Warbler feeds at North Pond

Seeking tasty snacks ~ Wilson's Warbler

This Virginia Rail was so very secretive ~ I was thrilled to catch a brief sight of this beauty

Migration Magic ~ Part 1

The spring season is one of my favorite times of the year. Along with milder temperatures, the greening of foliage and flowering trees, bird migration occurs. Colorful, active birds make regular stops throughout the Midwest seeking nourishment and rest before continuing on their long trek north. Below I feature several of the beautiful birds I have observed over the recent weeks.

A stunning Prairie Warbler uses a prickly branch to assist while foraging for insects

Singing a delightful melody ~ Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle)

Posing pretty ~ Warbling Vireo

In the springtime, beautiful Yellow Warblers fill the marsh at the back of our country property

 

A Blackburnian Warbler shows off his brilliant breeding plumage

A sightly Northern Waterthrush looks over the reflective pond

The pond I visited was teeming with sightly Palm Warblers flicking their feathery tails

Peek-a-boo! A Prothonotary Warbler seeks food under a fallen tree limb ~ A life bird for me!

Foraging amongst the budding tree branches ~ Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

The lovely colors of a Chestnut-sided Warbler

A Sora balances upon a branch ~ Take note of the extra long toes!